Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has weighed in on Orlando Pirates running the same race as Mamelodi Sundowns this season with CAF Champions League football.
Pirates enjoyed a club-record seven consecutive wins to start the season but their slip-up in losing 1-0 to Stellenbosch saw Sundowns usurp them at the summit of the league on goal difference with both sides having seven wins and one defeat in eight games.
But unlike in previous seasons, they are also in the Champions League group stage, the first time since the 2018/19 season, alongside Sundowns who have been at this stage for 10 consecutive seasons now.
“I think Pirates have done amazing so far, they have, but as you say as well, at some point you have to prioritise [the league or Champions League], especially when it becomes tough because Pirates have not played in the Champions League for a couple of years now,” McCarthy said.
“Sundowns have year in, year out, so they are probably more advanced than Pirates in this situation with all the travelling and then coming back a day before a match, having then to prepare to tackle the league.
“It’s going to be tough for them, I hope they have a big enough squad and enough depth that they can rotate because they going to have to do that, they will have to rotate, and the rotation has to be spot on.
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“You can’t be thinking you don’t need to win certain games when you’re on the heels of Sundowns, it’s continuous, they are a machine, they know how to win, they know what it takes, so Pirates will have to deal with that, but I think they can manage.
“They have managed so far, really good and it’s just about how much they can keep their best players fit, that’s the most important, [avoiding] injuries and I wish them all the luck because so far so good and it’s only another strength for South African football.”
Pirates take on Al Ahly at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, while Sundowns travel to Morocco to face ASFAR in matchday two of the group stage in Africa’s elite club competition.
